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2 Oct, 2013

Top 7 Interview Techniques – From Nearly 100 Years of Scientific Research

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 30, 2013  – Harvard University professor and Cangrade’s Senior Vice President Dr. Greg Willard completed an extensive review of nearly 100 years of job interviewing techniques and identified the ones that have lead to the best results. This research provides 7 simple steps to conducting an excellent interview.

“There are many articles out there that provide advice for conducting job interviews. They can sometimes be valuable, but most are based on the experiences and opinions of just one person. How do you know if they are relevant to you, or even accurate? Fortunately, researchers have been objectively studying job interviews for over a century, providing a wealth of information on what works best,” said Dr. Willard.

“Following these 7 simple techniques will not only help you make the right hiring decisions more consistently, but will also help reduce any unintentional biases that often compromise even the best interview strategies,” added Michael Burtov, Cangrade’s CEO.

1. Prepare for the interview by conducting a “job analysis”

Interviewers should consult with at least one “Subject Matter Expert” to generate a specific list of the most important aspects of the job and what is required to perform successfully. Not only will the interview be more relevant to the job but also job candidates and interviewers view the interviews more positively.

2. Prepare interview questions in advance

An interview format in which all candidates are asked the same specific questions further ensures that information obtained from candidates is relevant and comprehensive, and that irrelevant content is avoided. When all candidates are asked the same questions, their responses are more directly comparable.

3. Prepare for some degree of flexibility in the interview

What if you ask a pre-developed question and don’t get enough information from a candidate’s response? Interviews that simply move on to the next question at this point without room for follow-up questions often do not collect enough information from candidates. Furthermore, this format is perceived more negatively by both job candidates and interviewers.

4. Ensure that the interview is not too short, and not too long

Because it is important that all candidates are given the same opportunity to answer the same questions (and without feeling rushed) it is generally best to limit the number of interview questions. A general rule of thumb is to ask no more than 4 to 6 questions in a 30-minute interview; and no more than 8 to 12 questions in a 1-hour interview.

5. Focus on the interview during the interview

Despite what some experts recommend, the evidence suggests that soliciting candidates to ask questions of the interviewer reduces the interview’s reliability. Candidates should only be solicited to ask questions after the conclusion of the interview – allowing engagement on a more personal level.

6. Include more than one interviewer

The use of multiple interviewers greatly increases the reliability of the interview. Different interviewers in separate, subsequent interviews are more likely to agree on the right candidate.

7. Take detailed notes during the interview

Note taking creates a professional atmosphere for the interview, and allows a candidate to feel respected, listened to, and encouraged. And since human memory is limited most interviewers’ can’t remember every candidate’s answer to every question. Having a set of specific notes for each interview also allows you to be specific about why you came to specific conclusions about candidates.

For more detailed information visit: http://blog.cangrade.com/2013/09/26/7-scientific-tips-for-more-effective-job-interviews/